Quickly-demountable chain



May 12, T953 w. BEVERIDGE QUIcmY-DEMQUNTABLE CHAIN Filed Jan. 22, 1951NN MN (lttomegs Patented May 12, 1,953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,638,009 QUICKLY-DEMOUNTABLE CHAIN WilliamBeveridge, Detroit, Mich. Application January 22, 1951, Serial No.207,211

(Cl. 'M -254) .3 Claims. 1 This invention relates to chains and, inparticular, to demountable drive or conveyor chains.

One object of this invention is to provide a drive or conveyor chainwherein the links may be easily connected to or disconnected from oneanother at any point so as to facilitate assembly or disassembly of thechain or to shorten the chain or to lengthen it.

,Another object is to provide a drive or conveyor chain wherein thelinks cannot become disconnected as long as a moderate tension ismaintained in the chain, but can be easily separated by the user whenthe chain is in a slack condition.

Another object is to provide a drive or conveyor chain of the foregoingcharacter wherein the side links are produced by stamping operations andthe pivot pins by automatic screw machine operations, these operationsbeing quicker and less expensive than the previously cast or forgedlinks or pivot pins of prior drive or conveyor chains.

Another object is to provide a drive or conveyor chain of the foregoingcharacter wherein the pivot pins have circular heads and are thereforerotatable during use, this rotation distributing the wear around thecircumference of the pin rather than concentrating the wear in a singlelocation, as in prior pivot pins with non-circular heads.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a drive =or conveyor chain,according to the present invention; e

Figure 2 is a top plan View, partly in horizontal section, of the chainshown in Figure l;

l Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 3-3 inFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the chain shown inFigure l, showing the chain in one stage of assembly or disassembly;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4;and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section of a portion of a link ofthe chain shown inFigure l, showing the chain in another stage ofassembly or disassembly.

Referring to the drawings'in detail, Figures l and 2 show a portion of aquickly demountable drive or conveyor chain, generally designated III,according to one form of the invention and including center links andside links, generally designated II and I2 respectively. Each of thecenter links II consists of a single elongated member, the ends I3 ofwhich are enlarged or increased in thickness (Figure 2). Formed in eachof the center links I I, and extending through most of its length, is anelongated slot I4, the rounded end portions I5 of which are narrowed asat I (Figure 1). lThe end walls of the slot I4 are also convexly roundedas at I`I to accommodate any moderate transverse bending of the chain.The side surfaces of the center link ends I3 adjacent the outer ends orjunctions of the hole portions I5 with said side surfaces (Figures 2 and5) are rounded so that they are inclined or tapered away from said outerends or junctions to facilitate lateral tilting of the side links I2relatively to the center links II during assembly or disassembly of saidchain I0, as shown in Figure 5 and described more fully below inconnection with the operation of the invention. Midway between its endsis', the slot IlI is provided with a rounded wide portion or enlargementI in the thin central portion I Ia of the link II.

Alternately located with respect to the center links Ii andinterconnecting them are the side links I2 consisting of two elongatedflat members having mid-portions or central portions I9, the ends of theside links I2 being pivotally secured to the ends I3 of the adjacentcenter links I I by pivot elements or pins 20. It is understood,however, that a modified chain consisting of three or more side links I2pivotally secured at each end to two or more center links I I inalternate arrangement on a longer pivot pin 26 may also be used, ifdesired.

Each of the nat members or side links I2 is provided near either end 2 Iwith a keyhole-shaped opening 22 consisting of a round opening 23communicating with an opening extension or slot 24 which in turn has arounded end portion 25 located beneath a shallow countersunk portion orsocket 2 of approximately the same diameter as the round opening 23.

In its mid-portion I9 and midway between its ends 2 I, each of the flatmembers or side links I2 is provided with a flared countersunk hole 21to permit attachment of rollers, trolley arms and other devices (notshown) to any of the side links I2 along the chain I0.

Each of the pivot pins 20 consists of a cylindrical shank 28 having ateither end a nat circular head 29, the diameter of which is slightlyless than that of the countersunk portion 26 and the round opening 23 ofthe nat members I9. In the assembled chain I, each end 2i of one of thetwo side links I2 is pivotally secured to the near end I3 of one of theadjacent links II by one of the pins 20. The heads 29 of each pin 20 fitinto the countersunk portions or sockets 26 of the flat members I9 andthe shank 23 of each pin 20 passes through the rounded end portions 25of the opening extensions 24 and the rounded end portions I5 of the slotIII of the adjacent link II (Figures 2 and 3).

In the assembly of the chain I0 described above, the user passes onehead 29 of a pin 2li through the rounded wide central portion I8 of theslot I4 in a center link II. A flat member or side link I2 is then heldat right angles to the center link I I, and placed over the head 29 ofthe pin 20 so that the said head 29 passes up through the round opening23 of the keyhole-shaped opening 22 (Figure li). The same is done withanother side link I2 over the other head 29 of the pin 20 on theopposite sides of the center link I I, both flat members:y I9 havingthose sides with the countersunk portion 26 facing outward, away fromthe center link I I. The two side links I2 are then brought as close toeach other as possible, separated only by the thin central part: of thecenter link II, and the pin 20 is adjusted so that both of its heads 29clear the rounded' openings 23 through which they have been passed.(Figure 5);.

The pin 20 and the center link I I through which it passes are then slidlaterally toward the nearer ends 2I of the iiat mein ers I9, the shank28 oi the loinv passing along the opening extension Ul'. Slot 2A of thekeyhole-shaped openingl 2.2 in each of thel said ilat members. andstopping. in the rounded. en d portions, 25 thereof (Figure 6).. Theheads 29. of. the pin. 20; are` now directly over the countersnnkportions 26 of the. keyhole- Shared Openings 22,. The linkll is thenmoved across the.. flat members I9 in a direction perpendiciilar tothe.parallel flat. members. I9.. The. middle part. of the shank 28. passesalong the slot I4. in. the center link il until the flat members, t9 arepushed farther apart. as one. enlarged r thickened. end I3 of thelink`approaches them.

As. the side links. I2 move away from, each other.. the. heads 29 arereceived. and held in. the countersunk portions. Z of the keyholeshapedopenings; 22.. of the side. links. When the Zt. off the. pin 28.;reaches. the rounded end portion l5. of the.: slot l; in. the link Il,the. thickendi I3. of the link has been reached,` the; side. links I.2have been pushed as. far apart as. possible, being prevented. from,separating. further by the heads 29 of the pin 2i)v and. pivotallysecured tothe link I I by the said pin, and. the heads. 2t.y are. fullyseated` in the. countersunk portions 2.6'. 'I he center link. I. I. isthen swung into. longitudinaly alignment with the side. links t2:to-.prevent accidental disassembly ofA the chain we (Figures. I, 2, and;3)

The .process described abovefis.thenrepeated or the further ends of thecenter link LI. andthe sidelinks L2; in. combination with other; side.links h2' and; center' links. I I: in the. chain; lll; which areysimilarly assembled'.`

'.Fodisassemblel the chain.. the; foregoing. pro.- cednre.- is.creversedl after the Chain; has been loosened to permit manipulation, of.the links. The. Acenter link. Il; is. swung. perpendicular tothensideilinks I.2.to-.permit.it.to, heashovedthrollgh: thesideflinks l2(EigureA) s0-.tha.t, the thick end- I13iof'the link. is. moved. out,ironie-.between the flat side l2; until. only the. thin. center part of.the: Center. link, Il. soperatesv thel side. links 1.2,. whichV arebrought close. together to enable. the

heads .2S .of the pin 2 0. toA becomev disengaged from` the.lcountersunk portions 26. of, the keyholeshaped, openingsv 22 (Figure6.). The pin 2o is thenlllDVed. alongthe. opening extensions 2li andinto; the round, openingsv 2.3. (Figure` through which the heads 29 ofthis pin may be withdrawn asthe side links I2` are freed therefrom. The

pin 20 may then be freed from the center linkn I I by being withdrawnthrough therounded'wide portion I'8of-'the slot Id; This; or course,- isrepeated* in thedisassembly or the' other`- links ofthe chain.l

Thechain I. ofthepresent inventionl can thus: be disassembled when in. aslack condition; but.`

thee links. cannot.. become separated'. as long; as; a.

moderate.. tension. is provided. MoreoverL sincethe piyotpinsA 2i). havecircular heads 29,*y these. pinscanroiatawhile the chain is in. use.thereby' distributing the wear around. ther circumferenceoffthepinrather. thaniconoentrating itA inV a. single.

4 location. as. has been the casev with prior pivot pins having T-headsor other non-circular heads preventing them from rotation.

What I claim is:

l.. A quickly-demountable chain comprising elongated laterally-spacedside links, transverse pivot elements pivotally mounted in said sidelinks atv opposite ends thereof, and center links with enlarged endportions and narrowed intermediate portions pivotally interconnectingsaid pivot elements in alternating sequence with said side. links, saidcenter links. having: elongated holes. adapted to: slidably receive.said pivot. elements, said pivot. elements having constricted Shankswith. enlarged heads. at the opposite ends. thereof, and saidk sidelinks having elongated openings' therein adapted. tol receive saidpivot: elements, the side surfaces. or said enlarged end portions ofcertain of said. center links` adjacentvv the outer ends of saidfy holebeing' inclined away from. saidA outer ends ofi said hole whereby.` to.facilitate lateral` tilting of said sidel links: relaftively tor saidcenter links.

2. A quickly-d@mountable` chain comprising elongated laterally-spacedside links, transverse pivot elements. pivotallyl mounted in saidf sidelinks at opposite. ends thereof, and center links with enlarged endportions. and narrowed inter-` mediate portionsl pivotallyinterconnecting said pivot elements in alternating sequence withfsaidside..A links, said center' links having elongatedy holes adapted to.slidablyt receive said pivot ele-- ments, said pvot elements havingconstri'cted Shanks. with enlarged. heads at the opposite ends thereof,and said side links having elongated' openings therein adaptedY tolreceivel said pivot' elements, the outer ends. of said elongated holesin. certain of cross-section ina plane passing'through the axis. of thepivot element' engaging said hole whereby to permit swinging of saidcenter links in a plane lateral to said chain.

3. Ai quicklyJ-demountable chain comprising elongated:laterali-yf-spacedv si'd'e.- links; transverse.; pilot elementspivotally mounted in said side links atl oppositeend's thereof;andlcenter linkswith; enlarged end portions andi narrowedintermediateportions pivotallyinterconnecting'said pivot. elements inalternating sequencewith saidsideflinks,l said center links1 havinglelongated holes:l adapted to-slidablyireceiveesaidipivot elements, saidpivot.. elements having; constricted` Shanks.4 larged? heads at'V theopposite ends thereof;` and said side links having elongated openingstherein'. adaptedto receive said! pivot. elements; the side surfaces offsaidV enlarged endl portions: of` said. center links` adjacent the outerends: of saidl holes being inclined away from: said: outeruends. of'said holes; saidr outerends oil' said; elongated holes in certainL of.'vsaidcenterlinks. being-l of.' arcuatecrossssectionl in.4 aiplanepassiiigfthrough: theaxis off the pivot element: engaging: said;

aperture wherebyI to facilitatey lateral .tiltingv of. said side linksrelativelyY to said*V center' linksv andpermit swingingot saidrcenterlinks-ina plane;

lateralA` tosaid: chain-.-

WILLIAM BEVERIDGEI References Gitedi` in.` the file. or. this.:`patenti. UNITED STATES PATENTS-y Number. Name Date.-

826,991. Christ July 24), 1906, 1,326,171' Berry Dec30, 1919( 1.397..,131- Law Nov.. 115, 1921" said centeriinks being of arcuateA With eli--y

